Biomaterial Database

Production of fibrinolytic enzymes by macrophages on intrauterine contraceptive devices. 1978

M E Foley, and D M Jenkins, and G P McNicol

Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs) were removed from 44 patients with a variety of clinical conditions, and incubated in culture media. Following incubation for up to 96 hours the total numbers of macrophages on each device were counted. The Lippes loop and Saf-T- Coil had higher counts than the Copper 7. The counts on all devices were higher at mid-cycle and during menstruation and significantly higher in patients with menorrhagia and intermenstrual bleeding (P less than 0.0005). Samples of culture media were taken on a number of occasions for up to 96 hours for fibrinolytic studies, and fibrinolytic activity increased with time in 10 of 16 cases where fibrinolytic activity was detected. There was a weak positive correlation between the number of cells on each of the 10 devices which produced a rise in fibrinolytic activity and the highest level of activity produced by each of the devices (r = +0.59; P less than 0.05). Plasminogen activator activity was maximum early in the incubation period, while plasmin-like activity predominated in later samples. The possible role of macrophages in IUCDs in causing menorrhagia is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007435	Intrauterine Devices, Copper	Intrauterine contraceptive devices that depend on the release of metallic copper.	Copper Intrauterine Devices,Copper-Releasing IUDs,IUD, Copper Releasing,Copper Intrauterine Device,Copper Releasing IUD,Copper-Releasing IUD,Device, Copper Intrauterine,Devices, Copper Intrauterine,IUD, Copper-Releasing,IUDs, Copper-Releasing,Intrauterine Device, Copper
D008264	Macrophages	The relatively long-lived phagocytic cell of mammalian tissues that are derived from blood MONOCYTES. Main types are PERITONEAL MACROPHAGES; ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES; HISTIOCYTES; KUPFFER CELLS of the liver; and OSTEOCLASTS. They may further differentiate within chronic inflammatory lesions to EPITHELIOID CELLS or may fuse to form FOREIGN BODY GIANT CELLS or LANGHANS GIANT CELLS. (from The Dictionary of Cell Biology, Lackie and Dow, 3rd ed.)	Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages,Monocyte-Derived Macrophages,Macrophage,Macrophages, Monocyte-Derived,Bone Marrow Derived Macrophages,Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophage,Macrophage, Bone Marrow-Derived,Macrophage, Monocyte-Derived,Macrophages, Bone Marrow-Derived,Macrophages, Monocyte Derived,Monocyte Derived Macrophages,Monocyte-Derived Macrophage
D008595	Menorrhagia	Excessive uterine bleeding during MENSTRUATION.	Hypermenorrhea,Heavy Menstrual Bleeding,Heavy Periods,Heavy Period,Menstrual Bleeding, Heavy
D010960	Plasminogen Activators	A heterogeneous group of proteolytic enzymes that convert PLASMINOGEN to FIBRINOLYSIN. They are concentrated in the lysosomes of most cells and in the vascular endothelium, particularly in the vessels of the microcirculation.	Extrinsic Plasminogen Activators,Plasminogen Activator,Uterine-Tissue Plasminogen Activator,Uterine Tissue Plasminogen Activator
D002452	Cell Count	The number of CELLS of a specific kind, usually measured per unit volume or area of sample.	Cell Density,Cell Number,Cell Counts,Cell Densities,Cell Numbers,Count, Cell,Counts, Cell,Densities, Cell,Density, Cell,Number, Cell,Numbers, Cell
D005260	Female		Females
D005342	Fibrinolysis	The natural enzymatic dissolution of FIBRIN.	Fibrinolyses
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man